A fall 1981 intercultural to Jerusalem left a lasting impression on the late Christine Good Shenk ’83. 

The accounting grad, who passed away in July 2024, formed friendships that semester that endured long after she graduated from 91����Ƶ. Nine of her fellow students on the intercultural became part of a close-knit circle of friends known as “The Gang,” which has continued to gather regularly for decades.

Her widower, Ed Shenk ’83, was not part of the intercultural. At the time, the international agricultural development and biology education major was studying at Pennsylvania State University. Over the years, though, as the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, couple attended biannual reunions in major cities, members’ homes, beach houses, and even aboard a Caribbean cruise, he deepened his friendships with members of The Gang.

In her memory, he donated $90,000 to establish 91����Ƶ’s new Intercultural Programs Alumni Grant Fund and intends to make additional gifts going forward. The fund provides financial support for students who want to participate in intercultural programs but may not have the means to afford them. 

91����Ƶ’s intercultural programs have impacted thousands of graduates, offering opportunities to engage in different cultures, build global relationships, and experience a new perspective.

“When I began to think about the impact of intercultural programs, it was the friends, the experiences, and the exposure to other cultures that really lasted for her,” Ed Shenk said. “This is something she would’ve supported.”

His donation marks the largest-ever gift from an alum specifically for intercultural programs, according to Tim Swartzendruber ’95, senior regional advancement director for 91����Ƶ. 

“This is the first fund, in the 53 years of excellence in crosscultural learning at 91����Ƶ, that will go 100% to undergraduates who need financial support to seize this life-changing opportunity, and stipends for our adventuresome professors who lead interculturals!” he wrote in a recent Facebook post.

Christina Harrison, director of 91����Ƶ intercultural programs, called the grant fund a “game changer” for students. “This alumni-funded support will eliminate financial barriers for so many students who may be unable to consider an intercultural travel program due to lack of resources,” she said. 91����Ƶ leaders said they hope the fund will reach $500,000.

For more information about 91����Ƶ’s unique experiential intercultural learning opportunities, including future programs, visit .

Note “IPAGF” when you and you will join alumni like Ed Shenk who are paying it forward in a meaningful way for today’s students. 

Yoder, who retired from 91����Ƶ in 2004, died on July 17, 2025, at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, following a long journey with Parkinson’s disease. He was 86 years old. 

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, in the Eastern Mennonite School auditorium, 801 Parkwood Drive, Harrisonburg. 

“His love for travel was only surpassed by his love for people and he formed lasting relationships in the classroom, his community and around the world,” states an obituary written by his family.

You can read the obituary .

From Iowa to Africa

Born on April 17, 1939, Yoder was raised in a Mennonite family in Wellman, Iowa, a rural farming community about 25 miles from Iowa City. He was the oldest of five brothers and was the first in his family to attend college, majoring in English and history at 91����Ƶ and earning a BA in 1962. 

“He was not about to be a farmer,” said Nancy Myers Yoder ’66, his wife of 55 years. “He loved to read and he read voraciously, and so he was more of an academic.”

“He definitely was an academic,” agreed their youngest son, Joel Yoder ’97. “Growing up, he would be reading poetry or literature while working on the tiling machine in the summers for his uncle to pay for college.”

After graduating from college, Carroll left for Brussels to study French for a year and then taught in the French language in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a conscientious objector through Mennonite Central Committee’s . In the fall of 1971, he was hired to teach French at 91����Ƶ, while a PhD candidate at the University of Iowa, and Nancy was hired at the school to teach nursing. Carroll would earn his doctorate in French African Literature from the University of Iowa in 1974.

From 1983-1984, during a two-year leave from 91����Ƶ, Carroll returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo with his wife and two sons to serve as a Fulbright lecturer in French. It wouldn’t be the last time their travels would take them to the continent.

An ‘intellectual force’

Over the years, Carroll and Nancy led a total of 121 students on five semesterlong intercultural programs to France (1974 and 1989) and to France and Ivory Coast (1994, 1997, and 2001). He also led 16 students as a solo leader on two summerlong intercultural programs to Quebec (1987) and France and Ivory Coast (1992), according to a list from 91����Ƶ Intercultural Programs. 

“They were such a good team,” said Joel, who joined the 1989 and 1994 trips. “They needed each other to make it all work. Every time they’d come back from a cross-cultural, they’d say, ‘Don’t let us do that again.’ And then a little while later, they’d say, ‘Oh, we need to do another cross-cultural.’”

“He was a real people person,” Nancy said about Carroll. “He could communicate and make contacts with people in French-speaking countries and find opportunities to get speakers or find families for students to live with. He had a gift for reaching out and contacting people and seeing what might work out.”

Many of Carroll’s colleagues and former students, including those on his intercultural programs, have written tributes following his death to express their gratitude. 

Patricia King ’89, a former student of his who taught in 91����Ƶ’s Language and Literature Department from 2000 to 2003 and is now an author living in Durham, England, reflected on Carroll’s love of laughter and language: “He was someone who clearly took joy in his work and who loved the French language with a passion he transferred to his students.”

Novelist Christine Benner Dixon ’04, author of The Height of Land, said that Carroll had a “huge impact” on her development as a writer. “I am so grateful to have had him as my teacher,” she wrote. “In his classes, I deepened my interest in the craft of reading, teaching, and writing literature.”

Tim Swartzendruber ’95, a student on the 1994 intercultural group that traveled to France and Ivory Coast, remembered Carroll for his adventuresome spirit and keen intellect. “He had a reputation among faculty for having probably the most gifted mind,” said the English literature major and French minor. “He was the intellectual force on the faculty at that time. He was a real expert in literary criticism and taught us, at a high level, to analyze what we were reading and apply it to our lives.” Swartzendruber, who now serves as senior regional advancement director at 91����Ƶ, will be one of the speakers sharing their remembrances of Carroll at the Aug. 23 memorial service.

As an English major at 91����Ƶ, Joel took several of his father’s English and French classes. “He was known as one of the tougher professors, in terms of courseload,” he said. “He would have these daily quizzes. They weren’t worth a ton, but that was his way of seeing how many classes you actually attended.”

Carroll mentored many aspiring teachers and was also known for his successful track record in hiring and retaining qualified and dedicated faculty members while he was chair of the Language and Literature Department. 

Dr. Marti Eads, professor of English, was hired by Carroll to come teach at 91����Ƶ starting in the fall of 2003. “Carroll was the kind of person I aspired to be,” she said. “He was a very humble person and was always looking for ways to encourage others. He was always ready to sing other people’s praises.” Eads would chair the department for the next three years after Carroll retired and said that he supported her in that role. Carroll also helped start the Writers Read event that continues to draw authors to campus. 

Each year, the Carroll Yoder Award for Teaching Excellence honors an 91����Ƶ student who has demonstrated academic excellence in both literary studies and education courses and has shown a clear call to the teaching profession.

Later years

In a 2004 Weather Vane article about his retirement, Carroll is quoted as saying he will miss the “daily contact with students and colleagues,” and has most valued “the opportunity to integrate my Christian/Mennonite faith with my professional and service goals.”

Carroll was deeply engaged in the life of the church. The Yoders were one of the founding families of Shalom Mennonite Congregation in 1988. The church began meeting in Strite Auditorium in Campus Center and now meets at Eastern Mennonite School.

Carroll enjoyed attending concerts on campus and spectating basketball games. He also appreciated catching up with other retired 91����Ƶ faculty members at VMRC. “He kept physically fit,” Nancy said. “He would walk, he would bike, and he played tennis regularly.”

Carroll is survived by his wife, Nancy; sons Eric (Karina) and Joel (Chia-Chi/Judy ’98); and six grandchildren: Carrie (Jansen Miller), Elliott, Sophia, Bryn, Leah, and Lilly. He is also survived by his brothers Wilbur, Milford, and Galen, and was preceded in death by his brother Marcus.

One final testament to his love for 91����Ƶ was the many nephews, nieces, and other relatives he helped bring to the school. “I counted the number of students who came here, who I think were influenced by Carroll, and it totaled about 25,” said Nancy.

Cornelius, a sophomore, was one of 17 students from 91����Ƶ who participated in the spring semester intercultural trip to Guatemala and Mexico. Professor Wendell Shank, who teaches Spanish and linguistics, and Liz Miller, from Intercultural Programs, led the group in exploring history, culture, and language within the context of colonization. They spent eight weeks living with host families in Guatemala City, followed by some free travel time, and then two weeks of community learning in various Guatemalan organizations before traveling to Mexico City.

Zoe Clymer, a junior at 91����Ƶ, described her two weeks of community service at a private clinic on the outskirts of Guatemala City as “eye-opening.” She shadowed various positions in the clinic, prompting her to consider her role in health care and how she wants to help people stay healthy. Several other students worked in a clinic in San Juan. Ivy Miller, a sophomore, helped take patients’ vitals and sorted through piles of medicine for the pharmacy. She described the two weeks as “nerve-racking at some points,” but also appreciated the opportunity to “be helping hands to the clinic staff and expand our knowledge one day at a time.”

Another group of students worked with the Community Cloud Forest Conservation, an organization that teaches leadership skills and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Nathan Miller, a junior, reported that he and other students helped harvest vegetables, prepare soil at the tree nursery, and cook meals for the group, all while being surrounded by a beautiful landscape.

Besides community service, students spent the semester learning about migration, economics, human rights, health and education systems, and Mayan history and culture. They visited museums, refugee shelters, schools, and nonprofit organizations, but also got to relax at the ocean, take hikes, and explore volcanoes.

Caleb Metzler said he’s not sure how to compare his level of learning from this past semester with an ordinary one on campus. “While I haven’t been sitting in a classroom for three to six hours every day cranking out scholarly papers until my hands feel numb, I’ve had opportunities to learn every time I leave the confines of wherever we are staying,” the 91����Ƶ junior said. “It’s almost as if this semester has been a test-run on what life is like, and I feel as though I’ve learned quite a lot about what I want for my future.” 

Metzler, a triple major, is still thinking about what he wants to do after graduation. Several key experiences on this intercultural trip made him say, “Hey, I think I could enjoy doing this for my career.” These experiences included a presentation from a Guatemalan sociologist, a conversation about legal advocacy surrounding environmental health, and a volunteer experience at a migrant house in Mexico City.

Students on the intercultural trip sometimes felt overwhelmed with their immersion in a different language, but Spanish classes and placement with host families boosted their language skills. Still, with 22 indigenous Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala, students found themselves in situations where they couldn’t understand the language people around them were speaking. Malia Bauman, a sophomore, worked with the organization in an area that spoke Tz’utujil; she said it was sometimes difficult to find her place since she didn’t know the language. But she still appreciated hearing their native language since it “helped me see authentic interactions between my family, teachers, students, and community.” 

Similarly, Clymer reported that even though it was challenging to express herself in Spanish, one of her highlights from the trip was living with host families “because I got to form meaningful connections with people that live very differently from me.”

Students on the trip included Malia Bauman, Noah Buckwalter, Zoe Clymer, Malachi Cornelius, Lily Gusler, Claire Hurst, Emae Klompenhouwer, Esme Martin, Caleb Metzler, Ivy Miller, Nathan Miller, Samuel Myers, Kaylin Ozuna, Rose Short, Payton Simmons, Sarah Wheeler, and Amanda Yoder.

Members of the group shared their experiences and stories from the trip at Convocation on Wednesday, April 30. Watch a recording of their presentation .

“How do you mark the ending of one part of your life journey, while anticipating the next,” he wrote in a journal entry from that day. 

Roughly an hour after seeing his students off, he was on his bicycle pedaling toward a ferry that would begin an 1,800-kilometer (1,118-mile) journey across three countries in 22 days. Photographs from his ride along the EuroVelo 10/13 bike route, which follows the coast of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, as well as journal entries he logged during the trek, are the featured exhibition on display at the Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery. An opening reception for Holsopple and his collection of photos, paintings and writings was held at the gallery on Friday, Feb. 21. The exhibition will remain on display through March 21.

Holsopple, who joined the 91����Ƶ faculty in 2000 (he taught the school’s first digital media classes as a part-time instructor starting in 1998), is retiring this year. His contributions to 91����Ƶ throughout the past 25 years are too numerous to name, but include the creation of the communication major within the Language and Literature Department in 2000. 

“He actually built the communications department,” VACA Professor Steven Johnson said in introductory remarks at the reception. “It eventually merged with the art department to become the present-day Visual and Communication Arts department that you all know and love. … VACA majors look to Jerry for honest feedback and wise mentoring.”

Holsopple spent the 2009-2010 academic year as a Fulbright scholar at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania. His Into the Window exhibition, featuring icons he painted during his year there, was the first exhibition held at the Gehman Gallery when it opened in 2010.

The title of his latest exhibition, Finding Water, relates to the route he and his biking partner, Glyn Jones, took along the Baltic Sea coastline. “Every day we would see the water, from sandy windswept beaches to large rock boulders left by the glacier centuries ago,” a journal entry states. But, it also relates to how the metaphorical river of life carries us along our journeys. “I wanted this to be a show that’s not about remembering what I’ve done for 30 years or whatever, but about embracing the mystery of what is yet to come,” he shared at the reception. “And, what each day on a bike trip brings you that you don’t know is going to come your way.”

“Why did I take this bike trip?” Holsopple asked the crowd gathered at Friday’s reception. “Because I was looking for a way to process what it meant to say goodbye to these people. I stopped to visit people along the way that I had known all these years. It was like giving all three countries a big hug.”

The exhibition features several grids of photographs, each related to a theme. One grid shows Holocaust sites in the capital city of Riga, Latvia. Another is a collection of photos of churches that he passed by on his route. A grid of coffee shops includes his favorite cafe in Estonia, Kehrweider, “with its underground feel, good coffee and snacks, and an attitude,” he wrote in his journal. “In the early days of bringing students on these trips, you couldn’t get a carry-out coffee anywhere. Now, coffee shops are everywhere and people carry their paper cups down the sidewalks in hordes.”

Referencing a large photograph of trees along a shore, Holsopple recounted his experience capturing the moment. “It was about 6 a.m. when we went down the hill and I saw this reflection and I jammed on my brakes,” Holsopple said. “I was not going to pass up that reflection. I’m always fascinated by reflections because I think it plays with this idea of reality and what we imagine and what we see if we really pay attention to what’s happening in life.”

Finding Water also includes a pair of icons that Holsopple painted. One of them is inspired by an icon that Maria Skobtsova, a Russian poet, nun, and member of the French Resistance during World War II, was working on before she died at the Ravensbrück concentration camp in Germany. Holsopple and 91����Ƶ Theater Director Justin Poole created a musical theater production based on her life that opens at the MainStage Theater in March. The other icon is a stylized self-portrait that he created in 2016. 

Cassidy Walker, an 91����Ƶ senior majoring in art, photography, and digital media, attends every gallery opening through her work for the VACA department, but said Holsopple’s was special to her. 

“Jerry’s the reason I ended up coming to 91����Ƶ in the first place,” she said. “I had gotten into some big art schools, and he convinced me that I would get a great education here and that I’d get to be one of the Lithuania kids.” 

Walker was part of Holsopple’s final intercultural trip to Lithuania in 2023. She spoke about his guidance in helping her figure out her goals for the future. “I was nervous about becoming a triple-major and he’s been this person I’ve been able to lean on,” she said. “He’s always been there for me.”

Rachel Holderman ’18, who graduated from 91����Ƶ’s VACA department with degrees in Photography and Art, now works as a photographer for James Madison University. She took several classes taught by Holsopple and said she likes staying connected with those who helped develop her skills. At the opening reception, she said she was drawn to Holsopple’s use of reflections and unique angles. “It’s mirrored so perfectly that it’s hard to tell where the surface is, like where reality meets reflection,” she said about the photo of trees on a glassy lake.

Holsopple is an artist, photographer and renowned videographer who teaches photography and digital media-related courses in 91����Ƶ’s VACA department. He has a BS degree in Bible from 91����Ƶ, an MDiv from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, and a PhD in Media & Communication from European Graduate School. He led undergraduate intercultural trips to the Baltics in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023. 

A 2013 trip to the country resulted in the photography exhibit and book, Traces of a Social Movement: The Baltic Way, about people who participated in a 630-kilometer-long human chain, formed in August 1989 across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the water.

After leading groups of students and alumni to the Mediterranean for more than two decades, Dr. Linford Stutzman ’84, SEM ’90, and his wife Janet Stutzman SEM ’91 are putting together a “grand finale” of a trip. And they’re pulling out all the stops for this one. 

The trip, named “On the Face of the Deep” after a verse from Genesis, will take travelers on a voyage that follows parts of Paul’s mission journeys in the book of Acts, October 4-13, 2025. Passengers aboard two gulets (a traditional Turkish wooden sailing vessel) will explore the archeological sites of Ephesus and Perge, take in the Aegean islands of Samos, Patmos, Kos and Rhodes, and immerse themselves in the rich culture and history of the Mediterranean. 

“When you see the Mediterranean Sea in person, it blows your mind,” Janet Stutzman said. “People can’t believe how blue the water is. They’ve never seen anything like it.”

Take of the gulets!

Guests on the 10-day tour will spend each night on the gulet in private suites. They’ll savor Mediterranean cuisine each day, learn stories of the sea from history and from Scripture, enjoy performances of original sea shanties by alumni a cappella group Cantore, and engage in spirited discussions. 

“People will be sharing their own life stories and observations,” Linford Stutzman said. “Those conversations can go on for hours after a meal is done because they’re so fascinating. That’s what makes this more than a tour.”

The gulets sail from the port of Kusadasi, Turkey, on Oct. 6, ending in Fethiye, Turkey, on Oct. 11.

“It’s my favorite time of the year to visit,” said Linford Stutzman. “The water is warm and the days aren’t hot.”

The trip is part of 91����Ƶ’s “Alumni and Friends” series of cross-cultural tours and is open to alumni, current and former parents, and friends of alumni. There is space aboard the gulets for 60 guests who will travel together. The total cost of the trip is $5,500 per traveler plus airfare. The first payment of $2,500 is due Sept. 1, 2024.

All proceeds from the trip go directly to current 91����Ƶ students in need of financial support on their intercultural semester.

Learn more about the trip and register here!

91����Ƶ the leaders

Linford Stutzman spent more than 25 years as a professor at 91����Ƶ teaching culture, religion and mission courses. Janet Stutzman served as director of alumni and parent relations for 13 years.

The globe-trotting couple is well-known in the 91����Ƶ community for their decades of experience leading intercultural programs and Alumni and Friends tours. This tour is one that Linford and Janet Stutzman say they’ve dreamt of sharing with others since a sabbatical trip 20 years ago.

From 2004 to 2005, the Stutzmans sailed 4,000 miles over 16 months to visit every port linked to Paul’s travels in Acts. Their journey is detailed in Linford Stutzman’s book, published by Good Books. 

The couple has led similar sailing trips in the Mediterranean since then, but not to this scale. It will also mark the first to feature the sea shanties sung by Cantore, Linford Stutzman said. 

“We’ve never done anything of this magnitude before,” he said.

Lyrics to the shanties were written by the 91����Ƶ professor emeritus and are based on biblical stories involving the sea.

Listen to clips of the album of sea shanties .

Through their years of leading tours in the region, Linford and Janet Stutzman have built up a network of connections. They’ve tapped into that network to reserve the top gulets and travel guides. 

Those who have taken trips with the Stutzmans form lifelong friendships with one another and meet for reunions years after their trips end. They say their experience forever changed the way they read the Bible and the stories of Paul in Acts, Linford Stutzman said.

“It’s a story you can’t fully appreciate unless you experience it yourself and immerse yourself in it,” he said.

For more information, contact the alumni office at 540-432-4206.

“The transportation systems and traffic in Guatemala City are terrible, and any Guatemalan will tell you that,” said student Eli Ours, recounting his experiences from a spring intercultural trip to the Central American country. “It’s crowded, it’s hot, you’re often standing with an armpit in your face, you’re inhaling black diesel fumes, and it can take an hour to go five miles. While living with host families for eight weeks, myself along with the others experienced this on a daily basis while commuting to Spanish classes.”

“Over half of the group had an hour-and-a-half bus ride each way, which meant a total of at least three hours of bus time every day,” he said. “But again, remember, this is the reality for many Guatemalans.”

As the members of his intercultural group grew more comfortable with their commutes, they began competing to see who could get to school or home the quickest. 

“This led to things like sprinting to catch a bus, getting on the wrong bus, or getting off the bus to walk the last mile home,” Ours said.

Ours, along with 16 other 91����Ƶ students, shared stories from their semester-long intercultural trip to Guatemala and Cuba during Convocation on Wednesday morning. They returned to the U.S. and to campus this week with a deeper understanding of trauma awareness and resilience and a spirited desire to share about the lives of those they encountered on their trip.

The students lived with host families in Guatemala City for eight weeks. Each morning, said student Kate Krabill, they attended four hours of Spanish classes with an afternoon activity that helped them understand the rich history and culture of Guatemala. 

“In class, we read books, cooked traditional Guatemalan foods, sang Spanish songs and played games of memory,” Krabill said.

The group also spent five weeks traveling to other parts of the country. They spent the last two weeks of the semester in Cuba, splitting time between Havana and three other towns: Cienaga de Zapata, Santa Clara and Varadero. They were led by group leaders Elaine Zook Barge and Nathan Barge.

Miranda Beidler, who said a highlight of her trip was the time spent with host families, shared a poem she wrote for them:

“…I found a home in rice and beans and tortillas, dogs barking around the clock, chickens waking me up, bucket showers, talks on the patio, laughing at the dinner table, and the sounds of La Brigada. … Thank you for expanding my world, for patiently listening to my Spanish, for teaching me your culture, for your open hearts, and most of all, for showing me to love and to be loved in ways that I never could have imagined.”

Throughout the semester, students learned about the role and history of religion in the two countries. From witnessing a Mayan ceremony in a cave to experiencing the bustling streets of Antigua Guatemala during Holy Week, as Allysen Welty Peachey shared, they learned about how deeply rooted religion is in society.

Students in the group spoke about Guatemala’s incredible natural beauty — they climbed a volcano, explored the ancient Mayan city of Tikal and visited a lush cloud forest — as well as its destruction and exploitation. They talked about the access to education and health care in the two countries and the difficulty in obtaining medication in Cuba due to the U.S. embargo against it. And, students reflected on the impact of the tourism industry and migration on Guatemala and Cuba.  

.

Joshua Stucky spoke about the United States’ involvement in both countries. In 1954, the CIA successfully carried out a plot in Guatemala to overthrow the democratically elected President Jacobo Árbenz, who passed policy that favored the people instead of the United Fruit Company, Stucky said. 

“What followed was a genocide of the Mayan people across Guatemala, made possible only by U.S.-supplied arms and intelligence,” he said.

In Cuba, for more than 60 years, the U.S. government has continued to “enforce a repressive blockade that makes life there exceptionally difficult,” he added.

“If I were a Guatemalan or a Cuban, I would hate us,” Stucky said. “I would hate every American citizen for their complacency and the oppression of my people, for allowing their money to be used to buy the bullet that killed my son, for their comfortable lives of ignorant bliss, and for the power that we Americans have to better the lives of others that we do not use. And yet, at the end of every talk, every organization visit, every Coke I buy from the tienda on the corner, they thank us for being there, and ask us not to forget them. Not forgetting is the least we can do.”

Students on the trip included: Mana Acosta, Sophia Armato, Leah Beachy, Miranda Beidler, Ella Brubaker, Lane Burkholder, Kate Krabill, Naomi Kratzer, Nathan Lehman, Maria Longenecker, Arelys Martinez Fabian, Hollyn Miller, Eli Ours, Marianne Short, Marie Spaulding, Joshua Stucky and Allysen Welty Peachey.

Read journal entries written by the students during their trip on the 91����Ƶ intercultural blog.

Read about students’ experiences in South Africa from the 91����Ƶ intercultural blog below.

Learn more about future interculturals on 91����Ƶ’s website, and keep an eye out for updates on 91����Ƶ’s other spring intercultural at the Washington Community Scholars’ Center.

Molly Piwonka writes about the group’s visit to Soweto:

As we drove through the streets and made a few stops such as the Hector Pieterson memorial, we learned about the unfortunate circumstances the people living in this area were dealt with. Small houses, made in cheap ways, which also contain very little resources cover the neighborhoods. These houses might be small, but as Andrew Suderman says: the homes within are large because of the warmth and hospitable spirit of the people. There might not be much space, but those that live in Soweto are very welcoming and hospitable; happily willing to add another to their compacted living spaces. This community also radiates hope. These streets are painted with streams of colors. Blue, red, green, yellow, purple, orange. Those living in Soweto contain a good deal of creativity. From advertisements painted on walls to street vendors to full-out murals, every corner contains something interesting. This street art helps to keep the atmosphere alive and shows how it can uplift those around it with its bright and colorful nature. Art is culture and even though those in Soweto have dealt with many harsh realities and pain, they seem to show up day in and day out with welcoming spaces and creative spirits that no one can ever take away.

Nathan Oostland writes about visiting Marikana:

On Thursday we visited Marikana, a mining town that was the site of a massacre where miners protesting for more livable pay were answered with bullets. This event from 2012 is still raw in the community and we were honored to visit the community and site in which it took place. Napoleon, a local activist, welcomed us into his four-room home to watch a documentary of the event entitled Miners Shot Down. He was a gracious host who pushed us just outside our comfort zones physically and emotionally. We learned the power of the everyday person in a fight for justice and the importance of sharing stories together. A beautiful moment from the day was sitting on top of the hill where miners sat on strike against the mining companies. The view over the landscape was stunning but hindered by smokestacks and huge industrial buildings. The domination these companies have over the community and land was apparent. But Napoleon didn’t let us leave with the idea that the people lost. They hadn’t, wages increased and the movement displayed the resilience of the community.

Read more student stories from South Africa: the first weeks in Washington D.C., the first days in South Africa, and more recent adventures on 91����Ƶ’s intercultural blog.

For more on their experiences, tune into the Dec. 14 convocation at 10:10 a.m.. This event will be livestreamed on  page. [You do not need a Facebook account to view.]

Student-travellers have also posted on 91����Ƶ’s intercultural website.

• Maggie Garber blogs about wanting to fit in, experiencing challenges to her communication skills and her usually unerring sense of direction, and “a dozen other parts of me that I hold dear feel like they are crumbling.”

• Erin Clayton shares about the dramatic and surprising adjustments she made in acquiring new life and language skills since arriving in Peru and moving in with her host family.

• Hannah Beck captures the breathtaking experience of hiking along the Inka trail and viewing Machu Picchu.

Intercultural studies are a curricular requirement at 91����Ƶ. The 30-year-old program has taken students across the United States and around the world, accompanied by faculty, and often their family members, who have usually lived and worked in the area. Learning happens through homestays, language study, field trips, regular lectures by experts, and reflective opportunities. Students always have free travel time to explore on their own. The experience is routinely mentioned among recently returned students and in alumni surveys as life-changing and transformative.

Explore more about 91����Ƶ’s intercultural program

• View a timeline of the program and a list of faculty leaders.
• For a glimpse of past travels,
• 91����Ƶ’s Washington Community Scholars’ Center offers an intercultural experience in the urban setting of the nation’s capital. Students live in a communal house and work in internship settings while receiving vocational guidance. Many WCSC alumni have found that their internship turns into a full-time job offer. Learn more about fall 2022 placements and alumni who now have work in DC here and here.

Byron Peachey begins his first semester in a new role as 91����Ƶ’s director of intercultural programs*. He was formerly an advisor and instructor for student success in the Provost’s Office.

Peachey will coordinate off-campus intercultural undergraduate and graduate courses, provide academic and programmatic oversight of the undergraduate intercultural requirement, and teach undergraduate intercultural learning courses. 

Former director Beth Good has moved into a position as the new program director of the Master of Science in Nursing program.

“In multiple roles at 91����Ƶ I’ve sought to be strongly student-centered: Where does learning take place, how do we support growth, self-awareness, openness and curiosity about the larger world?” Peachey said. “Intercultural experiences, whether they happen on campus, in our Harrisonburg context, in our Washington D.C. program and throughout the US or internationally, are a central aspect of 91����Ƶ’s values and mission. I’m excited to give leadership for the future.”

Provost Fred Kniss spoke to the “wealth of international and 91����Ƶ work experience” Peachey brings to the position. Peachey has been involved in campus ministries, student advising, and teaching in the undergraduate general education and Bible and religion programs. He served as associate campus pastor from 2002-12.

Peachey, who is fluent in Spanish, recently returned from leading a summer intercultural in Spain with his spouse and social work professor Deanna Durham. He has also led six semester-long groups to Mexico, Guatemala, and Cuba, and the May term “Local Context” intercultural experience. This program includes immersion in Washington D.C., where he previously lived for 17 years. 

Peachey was involved in an inner-city mission congregation, Community of Hope, in Washington, D.C., where he was a social worker and development director. He previously served four years as co-director of Mennonite Central Committee’s work in El Salvador. He has a master’s degree in theology (mission and cross cultural studies) from Washington Theological Union, a master’s degree in counseling from 91����Ƶ, and a bachelor’s degree in social work from the Catholic University of America. 

“Byron brings a mix of skills, dispositions, and experiences that will be important in his leadership of 91����Ƶ’s Intercultural Programs as we strive to continually evolve to best serve the needs of our students,” said Kniss. “I am confident that Byron will carry on the important work of envisioning and re-envisioning 91����Ƶ’s Intercultural Program to ensure access and achievement for all our students in their intercultural learning and development.”

*Why the change from cross-cultural to intercultural learning?

91����Ƶ’s intercultural program is designed to develop cultural understanding and global awareness through an experience of living and learning in a different culture.  The focus of the program is to learn from and with others, which goes beyond and is more interactive than learning about others.  Across four decades of educational travel, how we understand what is required of individuals engaged in this multi-layered learning has moved from thinking about cross-cultural engagement to a more complex and mutual intercultural exchange that is relational, on-going learning that is integrated into our home identity and culture over time. Intercultural learning occurs in a dynamic and cyclical process of orientation, disorientation, reorientation and on again through disorientation, reorientation.  The result is to see one’s self and the world differently because of the relationships, awareness and understanding which develop through interaction in a different cultural context.

First published in 2017, portions of this timeline has been updated through 2022. We thought it was a fun read, so are republishing it now.

Remember reading the Bible along the Sea of Galilee, or finding a new “brother” or “sister” when you stayed in a mud-brick dwelling, or doing research at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C.?

Those and many more like them are the experiences at the heart of 91����Ƶ’s , which has been part of the core required curriculum for more than 30 years and has taken students all over the world, often led by faculty who lived and served in those locations and return with students time and time again. (For more about faculty repeat and multiple trips, look below to the final section of this post.)

1955 – At age 20, to-be cross-cultural visionary Al Keim is drafted. A conscientious objector, Keim is able to satisfy the draft board by doing two years of service as a volunteer with Mennonite Central Committee, helping refugees in war-devastated Europe. This period overseas, which included a month on a kibbutz in Israel, changed his life path.

Summer 1971: French professor Emery Yoder led a group to Quebec City, Quebec, for a French immersion experience that included classroom study at Universite Laval (Yoder taught French-Canadian history) and sightseeing.  (Contributed by Dorothy Jean Weaver, emeritus professor).

1972: Education professor Esther K. Lehman led a group of four education students to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she supervised them as they did their student teaching at the Good Shepherd School with children of missionaries. (Contributed by Dorothy Jean Weaver, emeritus professor)

1972 – Al and Leanna Keim lead 91����Ƶ’s first overseas trip, to the regions in Switzerland and Germany that were the headwaters of the Mennonite stream of Christianity.

1972 – From 1972 until 1982, cross-cultural program visionary, history professor, and former dean Al Keim and other faculty members lead 10 optional trips to Europe and the Middle East, laying the groundwork for the cross-cultural program.

1976 – Washington Community Scholars’ Center, then called Washington Study Service Year or WSSY, begins

1981 – First cross-cultural to New York City

1982 – Faculty-guided study in a culture different from one’s own becomes mandatory for undergraduate students

1982 – A semester-long trip led by Sharon Hostetler of nine students to Costa Rica and Mexico marks the first study-tour that is part of the general education program.

1982 – First cross-cultural to Costa Rica/Mexico

1984 – First cross-cultural to Mississippi

1984 – First cross-cultural to Mennonite World Conference in Strasbourg, France.

1984 – First cross-cultural to Middle East

1984 – First cross-cultural to Mexico

1985 – First cross-cultural to Arizona/Navajo Nation

1985 – First cross-cultural to Germany

1985 – First cross-cultural to London

1986 – First cross-cultural to China

1986 – First cross-cultural to Alaska

1986 – First cross-cultural to England

1987 – First cross-cultural to New Zealand

1987 – First cross-cultural to Kentucky/Appalachia

1987 – First cross-cultural to Quebec

1987 – First cross-cultural to Northern Ireland and/or Rep. of Ireland

1987 – First cross-cultural to Central/Latin America

1988 – First cross-cultural to Los Angeles

1988 – First cross-cultural to Southern Africa

1989 – First cross-cultural to Oklahoma/Native American peoples

1989 – First cross-cultural to France

1989 – First cross-cultural to Bolivia

1989 – First cross-cultural to Jamaica

1990 – First cross-cultural to Japan

1990 – First cross-cultural to Navajo/Pueblo Peoples

1990 – First cross-cultural to Soviet Union

1990 – First cross-cultural to Chile

1992 – First cross-cultural to Navajo/Hopi Nations

1992 – First cross-cultural to New Orleans

1992 – First cross-cultural to the British Isles

1992 – First cross-cultural to France/Ivory Coast

1992 – First cross-cultural to Russia

1992 – First cross-cultural to Ivory Coast/France

1992 – First cross-cultural to Kenya

1993 – First cross-cultural to the Del-Mar-Va Peninsula

1993 – First cross-cultural to Washington, DC

1994 – First cross-cultural to Spain

1995 – First cross-cultural to Montana

1996 – First seminary cross-cultural to Croatia and Bosnia

1996 – First cross-cultural to Netherlands

1997 – First cross-cultural to Ghana

1998 – First cross-cultural to Hawaii

1998 – First seminary cross-cultural to Israel/Palestine

1998 – First cross-cultural to Navajo Nation

1999 – First cross-cultural to Albania

1999 – First cross-cultural to Germany/Austria/Switzerland

1999 – First cross-cultural to Tanzania

2000 – First cross-cultural to Lesotho

2001 – First cross-cultural to Civil Rights Trail

2001 – First cross-cultural to Ojibwe/Cree Nations

2001 – First cross-cultural to regional transcultural contexts

2001 – First cross-cultural to Austria/Germany

2002 – First cross-cultural to Austria

2002 – First cross-cultural to Lithuania

2002 – Washington Study Service Year (WSSY) becomes the Washington Community Scholars’ Center (WCSC).

2003 – First cross-cultural to South Africa/Lesotho

2003 – First cross-cultural to Zimbabwe

2003 – Eastern Mennonite Seminary hosts the first Learning, Exploring, and Participating (LEAP) summer program, funded by a Lilly Grant. The program, for high-school-aged youth from diverse settings, continued through 2009. It included an orientation at EMS, followed by a cross-cultural experience and then ending with a debriefing time back at the seminary. Locations were Zimbabwe (Mennonite World Conference), 2003; Jamaica, 2004; Ghana, India and the Middle East, 2005; Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, 2006; Guatemala, Mexico, Trinidad, 2007; Colombia, 2008; and New Orleans, 2009.

2004 – First cross-cultural to Switzerland/Italy

2005 – First cross-cultural to Fiji/New Zealand

2005 – First cross-cultural to Harlem

2005 – First cross-cultural to France/Benin

2005 – First cross-cultural to Greece/Turkey

2005 – First cross-cultural to Guatemala/Bolivia

2005 – First cross-cultural to Peru

2005 – The Washington Community Scholars’ Center moves to the Nelson Good House in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington D.C.

2006 – First cross-cultural to Argentina

2006 – First cross-cultural to Guatemala/Nicaragua

2007 – First cross-cultural to India

2007 – First cross-cultural to Vietnam

2007 – First cross-cultural to Mediterranean

2007 – First cross-cultural to Spain/Morocco

2007 – First cross-cultural to Guatemala/Mexico

2008 – First cross-cultural to Newfoundland/Labrador

2009 – First cross-cultural to Nigeria

2009 – First cross-cultural to Paraguay

2010 – First cross-cultural to Morocco

2011 – First cross-cultural to Costa Rica/Nicaragua

2011 – First cross-cultural to Honduras

2012 – First cross-cultural to US/Mexico border

2012 – First cross-cultural to Bulgaria

2012 – First cross-cultural to Zambia

2013 – First cross-cultural to Honduras for the new MA in Biomedicine program

2013 – First cross-cultural to South Korea

2014 – First cross-cultural to Iran

2015 – First Collaborative MBA cross-cultural to Costa Rica.

2016 – First cross-cultural to Myanmar

2017 – This year’s Israel-Palestine trip is 91����Ƶ’s 25th semester program in the Middle East since 1982.

The Costa Rican inter-cultural will become a requirement for MBA students, and continue as an elective option for MAOL students.

2020 – The COVID pandemic brought the spring Guatemala cross-cultural to a standstill. They returned home on a special flight after the borders closed.

The cross-cultural program adapts to pandemic challenges.

In 2021-22, the name of the cross-cultural program undergoes a change to intercultural program.

From the Intercultural Program website: 91����Ƶ’s intercultural program is designed to develop cultural understanding and global awareness through an experience of living and learning in a different culture.  The focus of the program is to learn from and with others, which goes beyond and is more interactive than learning about others.  Across four decades of educational travel, how we understand what is required of individuals engaged in this multi-layered learning has moved from thinking about cross-cultural engagement to a more complex and mutual intercultural exchange that is relational, on-going learning that is integrated into our home identity and culture over time. Intercultural learning occurs in a dynamic and cyclical process of orientation, disorientation, reorientation and on again through disorientation, reorientation. The result is to see one’s self and the world differently because of the relationships, awareness and understanding which develop through interaction in a different cultural context.

2021 – Three Middle East cross-cultural groups from the ’90s gather for online reunions. Their travels were life-changing, members said. (*the term cross-cultural is retained in this coverage as that was the name of the program at the time.)

The first intercultural group to travel since the pandemic visits Lithuania with Professor Jerry Holsopple.

Faculty repeat and multiple trips

Many faculty have led repeat and multiple cross-cultural trips. Some of the most-traveled include (details as of 2017):

• Spring 2017 was the 14th semester cross-cultural program led by Linford Stutzman since 2001, most of them with Janet Stutzman as assistant leader. He has also led numerous short-term summer programs for undergrads, alumni and others in Albania, Lithuania, Turkey/Greece and the Mediterranean since 1999.
• Ann and Jim Hershberger led their seventh semester program in  2017. Ann has also led two local summer programs.
• Nancy and Carroll Yoder co-led several trips. Nancy counts herself “privileged to assist Carroll on a number cross-cultural experiences, and we continue to reminisce about those times and special students and host families we learned to know.” The couple led summer travels in Quebec in 1972, 1974, and 1976; the semester program in France 1974-75 and 1989; and to France and Ivory Coast in 1994, 1997, and 2001.
• Byron Peachey has led three Local Context programs, and his fifth semester in Guatemala is scheduled for spring semester 2018.
• Deanna Durham has led two semesters in Guatemala with Byron Peachey and served two terms at WCSC, and in 2015 she led her fifth Local Context program.
• Ervie Glick led five summer programs and a one-semester trip to various European locations between 1992 and 2004​.
• Gloria Rhodes led her fifth cross-cultural trip to South Korea in the summer of 2013. She has also led or assisted with programs in Russia, Ireland, and Navajo Nation.
• Harlan deBrun led five summer program trips as well as four semester cross-culturals to South Africa/Lesotho.
• Jerry Holsopple has led six summer trips to Lithuania.
• Jim Leaman has led three summer graduate cross-culturals to Costa Rica, and co-led an undergrad summer trip to Kenya.
• Moira Rogers led her fifth summer cross-cultural to Peru in 2011. She also led programs to Navajo Nation, Argentina and Germany, as well as two semesters in Spain and Morocco.
• Myrrl Byler, co-leader of four summer programs, led his fifth 91����Ƶ cross-culture in China in the fall semester of 2013.
• Spencer Cowles led his fifth trip to Jamaica. He also traveled with students to Navajo Nation and Japan.

As the summer comes to a close, students at 91����Ƶ reflect on their summer 2022 intercultural experiences in Spain and Ghana. 

The current trip to Spain and the past trips to Ghana and Spain are only three of six intercultural experiences this summer. The others include a 3-week seminar to the U.S West entitled “A Women’s West,” a local context 3-week seminar highlighting diverse histories and cultures in Harrisonburg, and the Washington Community Scholars’ Center (WCSC).

Fall interculturals travel to Peru and WCSC. Learn more about future interculturals.

Read about students’ experiences in Spain and Ghana from the 91����Ƶ intercultural blog below:

Spain II

Coming up on their last week abroad, the 4-week summer Spain intercultural program has seen everything from bullfighting in Valencia to the Royal Palace of Madrid. Led by Deanna Durham, the group of 16 91����Ƶ students will travel across Spain from July 6 – Aug. 1.

Junior Ashley Mellinger reflects on culture shock and community:

We have been totally immersed in the Spanish culture here in Valencia. From the heat and lack of air conditioners to different foods and paying for water, the culture shock is real. We found comfort in the small things and stuck together to get through the uncomfortable feelings. Just two weeks ago, a lot of us were strangers to each other, but now it feels like we’ve known each other for a lifetime. 

Read more reflections from Spain on the intercultural blog.

Ghana

The Ghana Year of Return trip is a unique intercultural experience: the theme is connected to the 1619 project which is honoring the “Year of Return” in Ghana and the 400-year anniversary since the first documented captured African was brought to Virginia. 

From the intercultural desecriptions: “This journey to Ghana is intended to be a healing trip for students of color at 91����Ƶ who have historical and ancestral connection to the legacy of slavery. Our learning will explore and honor both the pain and the resilience of our identity.”

Aliyyah Haggard and Rayn Robinson reflect on their first day in Ghana:

Monday was our first official full day in Ghana. We started off the day around 8 in the morning and had our first couple of lectures at the University of Ghana. The focus today was on the slave trade (from an African perspective) and religion and human rights. After class we went to a local restaurant for lunch then drove to the DuBois museum for a tour of DuBois’ Ghanaian home and burial site. Then we returned to our hotel for some dinner, and discussion time.

The rest of their week included learning about Child Rights and Protection and mental health concerns in Ghana, experiencing Ghanian theater and dance, volunteering, visiting a former Ghanian President, and much more.

Read more about Ghana on the intercultural blog.

Spain

Led by Deanna Durham and Byron Peachey, the 6-week summer Spain intercultural program saw 22 91����Ƶ students travel across Spain from May 9-June 20. The group explored several of the diverse regions of Spain: Valencia on the Mediterranean Sea, the central capital Madrid, Andalucia in the south and Asturias along the northern coast. Students stayed with host families, learned Spanish in an immersive program, and learned about the culture, history, and contrasts of Spain.

Junior Olivia Beiler reflects on her host family experience:

As we begin our last week with our host families, I’ve done some reflecting on how I’ve appreciated the relationships we’ve built with them. From our conversations every evening about our days to playing with our host dog Luna, I am so thankful for every moment of it. Two ways we really connected with our host family were through food and Lord of the Rings. Our host mom loves to cook and has made us many delicious traditional Spanish dishes for dinner. She has also expressed to us how much it means to her that we always eat all of the food she’s made and are not picky eaters. As for Lord of the Rings, one of our first nights here our host dad invited us to watch Lord of the Rings with him—little did he know Elizabeth is an avid Lord of the Rings fan. We picked up a little ways into the second movie with the audio in Spanish and English subtitles. Since Laura and I have never seen Lord of the Rings this was a bit confusing for us, but we have loved this special time to bond with our host dad. Now we are working through the third movie in bits every few nights and it makes our host dad thrilled every time we ask if he wants to watch some more.

Senior Jacob Durren reflects on trying new things:

Throughout this trip I have taken a lot of time to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. From trying exotic foods like octopus and raw squid to even just exploring the cities by myself, I feel as though I have definitely achieved that goal that I had set for myself. One specific example that sticks out to me is when a group of us decided to surf at the Beach of Rodilles. Although it was harsher conditions and the waves were quite powerful, I found the courage to put on a wetsuit and try to tame the ocean with my rented surfboard. While I fell almost every single time I tried to stand during the first hour, I still persevered and had some great encouragement from my friends on the trip. For the last hour of surfing I felt much more confident and was able to consistently catch a wave and then stand up for at least a few seconds. While I will not be attending any competitions soon, I certainly feel as though surfing could be something I would enjoy doing from time to time when I have the chance to. If anything, this trip has taught me the importance of trying new things even when at first they might seem to be too overwhelming.

Read more reflections from Spain on the intercultural blog.

Ten graduating seniors were honored as Cords of Distinction recipients in a ceremony Saturday afternoon, April 30, 2022, at 91����Ƶ.

Faculty, staff and fellow students nominated the recipients, who were cited for their “significant and verifiable impact” on the university and on student life; for their contributions to developing the institution’s positive image; for substantial contributions to the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County area and beyond; for their high academic and social standing; and their embodiment of 91����Ƶ’s shared values of Christian discipleship, community, service and peacebuilding.

Rodrigo Barahona

An environmental science and economics from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Rodrigo was honored by Micah Shristi, director of International Student Services.

Rodrigo Pablo Felipe Sebastian Barahona Barahona, or – to his friends–”Rodri”. Since the moment he first set foot on campus Rodrigo has consistently and constantly demonstrated welcoming, connecting, and generously serving others as his highest priorities. This is exemplified by the chill relaxed friendly creative presence that Rodrigo brings to any interaction and by the many and wide-ranging community building activities on his 91����Ƶ resume:

1. International Student Organization (“ISO”). Unfailing participation, planning, and leadership of the club throughout his 4 years at 91����Ƶ including 2 years as treasurer. Let me give you an example: Even this semester with an evening class at the same time as our weekly club gathering, Rodrigo still comes to the gathering as soon as his class is over even if it’s just for 5 minutes at the tail end of the gathering. Connecting with and supporting ISO members is so important to him. Rodrigo has also been an active member of the Latino Student Alliance.

2. Creative expression. Through participation in formal and informal music ensembles Rodrigo has (literally) helped to set the rhythm of campus life with his skills as a drummer with the 91����Ƶ Jazz Ensemble and many other musical collaborations. I would be remiss if I failed to mention creative video collaborations with Jay Cho. 

3. He’s brainy. One major was not enough for this man. He needed two, so he’s graduating with a double major: economics and environmental science.  And surprise, surprise, Rodrigo uses his braininess to help other students by serving as an economics tutor in the Academic Success Center and an English language tutor in the Intensive English Program. 

4. Community service: Gardens, solar panels, field trips, vines, figs… Oh, my! 

All this and more… and always friendly, welcoming, unassuming, and non-judgmental. Rodrigo models creativity, compassion, and hard work to his peers. There will be a Rodri-shaped hole in 91����Ƶ’s community fabric next semester. Thank you for everything, Rodrigo. These Cords of Distinction are well deserved.  

Asha Beck

A digital media and communications major and Spanish minor from Linville, Virginia, Asha was honored by Professor Kathy Evans, education.

It has been an immense pleasure to work and learn alongside Asha Beck this year. Asha has a heart for people; she possesses natural leadership qualities; and she holds a deep passion for justice. 

Whether she is planning an event or working on an art project, Asha centers relationships with others as an essential part of all that she does. She cares for people and it shows in the way she listens empathetically and in the way she works to include people who have often been left out. She sees people, truly sees them, regardless of their status or of their ability to provide something in exchange – she simply sees them and includes them in the most genuine of ways. In thoughtful and compassionate ways, Asha embodies the tagline, “Belong Together,” and has helped to make 91����Ƶ a place where people indeed do belong. 

Asha is also a natural leader. She has been a member of Safe Space since her first year at 91����Ƶ; as one of the Leadership Council members this past year, she has worked to build community and support fellow students. In addition, she has held leadership in the Art Club and served as a senator with SGA. With her commitment to a relational ethic, her leadership takes on a quality of collaboration and invitation. I remember being at a Safe Space meeting where students were discussing the roles of president, vice-president, etc. and in part because of Asha’s leadership, they ended up settling on a leadership team model, where they all worked together to make decisions and plan events. I think they even rewrote the club constitution to reflect this commitment to a non-hierarchical leadership structure. 

Lastly, one of the things that I have appreciated so much has been Asha’s fierce commitment to justice and equity. Again, from a completely relational place, she is willing to have difficult and authentic conversations that demonstrate a willingness to learn from others’ perspectives. From caring for chickens to hosting conversations about healthy emotional boundaries, Asha has spoken out about important issues and has supported initiatives that create opportunities for education, advocacy, and a better 91����Ƶ. 

Asha’s care for the earth, her love for people, and her concern for all of life have led her to be one of those quiet champions for a more just world. I look forward to seeing where Asha’s path continues to take her. 

Alcinda Brubaker 

A marketing major from Keezletown, Virginia, Alcinda was honored by Celeste Thomas, Director of Multicultural Services.

I am humbled to stand before you today to share the accomplishments of this wonderful young woman, Alcinda Brubaker. It was my pleasure to serve as her adviser for the Black Student Alliance as well as mentor. I have come to not only know Alcinda as a talented young woman but I have been blessed to have the honor to get to know her heart. 

Alcinda began her journey at 91����Ƶ in 2010 and in the words of Langston Hughes, “Life ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor—Bare.” Despite all of your challenges you have kept climbin’ and reachin’ landin’s, and turnin’ corners, and sometimes goin’ in the dark, but you have followed your own advice and have never given up! 

You have given so authentically and unselfishly of yourself to the 91����Ƶ community, the greater Harrisonburg community, and to the well-being of the numerous students you have mentored. Your impact will be felt for years to come. You have impacted not only the BIPOC community but you have left your footprint on the entire campus. On campus you have served the following: Royal Society Ambassadors, Art Club, Black Student Alliance, The Weather Vane, Student Life, and the Department of Business and Leadership to name a few. Additionally, you have served Gift and Thrift, Harrisonburg Renaissance, International Festival, Beats for Mozambique, and Divine Unity Community Church. Your reach has been broad. 

You are passionate about making a difference in the lives of those who are marginalized. You recognize the privilege that you hold and work hard to make the playing field equitable for everyone. You live your favorite quote by Ghandi, which is, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” You have worked hard to overcome adversity and you are resilient beyond words. 

I leave you with these words from Amanda Gorman: “For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” You are BRAVE! Look what a war orphan from Mozambique has accomplished when given the opportunity!

Tahj’ae Coleman

A psychology major from Willingboro, New Jersey, Tahj’ae was honored by Celeste Thomas, Director of Multicultural Services.

I am well pleased to have had the opportunity to walk alongside Tahj’ae during her journey at 91����Ƶ. In the words of Maya Angelou,“Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room.”

Tahj’ae is a deep thinker. She is one who sits back and observes situations before contributing. She takes it all in and comes to the table informed. She does her research. She has a heart and genuine concern for people and creates opportunities for those who are less fortunate than herself.  

Tahj’ae is a true advocate for social justice. She not only assisted with the creation and painting of the Black Lives Matter Mural but has on numerous occasions raised her voice and spoke truth to power in the 91����Ƶ Weather Vane newspaper. She unapologetically shared her passion about the inequities happening in the world and on campus. She stood up with confidence, bravery, self determination and empowerment while serving her people.

She carries that same passion in her service with the Black Student Union, the Student Government, Psychology Club and Royal Ambassadors. It wasn’t enough to just be a part of these organizations, she held leadership roles in all of them. She always shows up in spaces as her authentic self and this is a unique gift.

Additionally, she has worked at Covenant House where she was able to counsel homeless youth and guided them in the direction of working toward a positive and productive future. In an effort to assist students in having a better college experience, she is conducting research on how childhood verbal abuse can create low self-esteem in college students and can ultimately create a lack of sense of belonging in college.  

Tahj’ae has taken being a young woman of color on campus very seriously. It is not lost on her the importance of representation to underclassmen of color and that regardless of one’s ethnicity, your hard work will pay off! To paraphrase Maya Angelou: Tahj’ae, Bringing the gifts that Your ancestors gave, You are the dream and the hope of the slave. You Rise, You Rise, You Rise!

Elizabeth Eby

A major in peacebuilding and development and Bible, religion and theology from Goshen, Indiana, Elizabeth was honored by Professor Justin Poole, theater program director.

Throughout her four years at 91����Ƶ, Elizabeth Eby has been a standout student, always dedicated, hardworking, fearless, and passionate. She has juggled multiple activities with patience and a smile on her face, contributing greatly to group dynamics in diverse settings.

Elizabeth has served as Pastoral Assistant (then Student Chaplain) for two years, as a hymn sing student leader, as planner and leader of campus worship services and the Sunday Night Worship service during the pandemic shut down period. 

In theater Elizabeth’s contributions onstage and behind the scenes have helped launch and sustain a significant growth period for the theater program. From her first leading role, playing Belle in Beauty and the Beast during her freshman year to her unforgettable portrayal of doomed rockstar Mercutio in U2 Romeo and Juliet and the featured dancer in the opera Noye’s Fludde Elizabeth has demonstrated remarkable skills as a performer. Elizabeth has been the recipient of multiple Irene Ryan Acting nominations from the Kennedy American College Theater Festival. She was even one of the select few to make it to the finals round in this year’s regional competition, beating out theater majors from much larger programs. Elizabeth has also been a community teacher for the after-school program On the Road Collaborative at Thomas Harrison Middle School, demonstrating her commitment to nurture another generation of artists. 

Elizabeth Eby’s presence at 91����Ƶ has made this a better place, and I look forward to seeing where she goes from here!

Skylar Hedgepeth

An elementary education major from Smithfield, Virginia, Skylar was honored by Ashley “Stick” Kishorn, head field hockey coach.

Skylar Hedgepeth has connected with a tremendous amount of people during her time at 91����Ƶ. I realize there are so many individuals who could speak on behalf of Skylar tonight. I am truly honored to have the opportunity to present Skylar Hedgepeth for this recognition of Cords of Distinction Award. 

Skylar has taken opportunities to be a leader in a wide variety of roles on campus and throughout our community by participating as an active member with Eastern Mennonite Student Women’s Association and the Committee of Diversity & Inclusion.  As Celebration co-president and a Student Chaplain Assistant, Skylar exemplifies her passion to serve others through 91����Ƶ’s student-led worship service. She dedicates her summers to Fuge Camps, where she works as a bible study leader to create change in the lives of students. Skylar’s compassion and selfless contribution to others will continue to guide her as she pursues her future as an educator. In addition to her activities, Skylar’s dedication to academic excellence has allowed her to maintain a 4.0 Cumulative GPA and hold a spot on the 91����Ƶ Deans List each semester. She has been recognized as a member of the NFHCA All – Academic Squad and a Scholar of Distinction. 

In the recruiting process four years ago, I could tell that 91����Ƶ and the field hockey program would be a good choice for Skylar and for our program, but more importantly Skylar was a perfect fit for the 91����Ƶ community as a whole. Skylar already possessed many of the values and characteristics, and of course the field hockey skills to make a prominent contribution to 91����Ƶ Athletics. Skylar made an immediate impact on the field hockey program starting her career leading the team in goals as a freshman and earning the 91����Ƶ Rookie Athlete of the Year Award. Sklyar also earned All-ODAC recognition during her freshman and junior seasons. As she finishes her field hockey career, she leaves her mark on the program and her name in the record book, finishing 17th all time in scoring. Additionally, Skylar’s work ethic and determination allowed her to participate as a dual-sport athlete and also played softball and lacrosse.

Beyond the statistics and her capabilities as an athlete, Skylar exemplifies what you hope each and every athlete who comes through the program will aspire to be. You hope that they will get involved and be active participants in the community, you hope that they will be able to grow their faith, and you hope that they will grow as leaders and be able to advocate for themselves and for others. She has taken full advantage of the Division III athletic experience and submerged herself into the 91����Ƶ community. She cares deeply about women’s representation, she is vocal about the rights of underrepresented groups, and steps up to share her faith with others. I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached Skylar. I could not be more proud of her and the impact that she will have on future students as an elementary teacher.  

Hannah Leaman

A mathematics major with secondary education licensure and a minor in Honors from Bakersfield, California, Hannah was honored by Professor Daniel Showalter, mathematics.

During her first three years at 91����Ƶ, Hannah quickly established herself as a disciplined student, talented writer, and a master of mysteries. For example, did you realize that Hannah shares the title of reigning world champion of the Kryptos Codebreaking Competition held by the University of Central Washington? But rather than selfishly limiting her sharp wits to her own academic pursuits, she invests them in helping others. As one nominator said, “Hannah has so courageously spoken out on important issues on campus and done so with grace, thoughtfulness, and compassion. She has been a quiet and fierce advocate for a better 91����Ƶ.” 

Still, it wasn’t until our cross-cultural to Thailand together that I truly began to see Hannah’s poetic soul and transformative presence. Although I may not have earned the same 15 credits as the students on the trip, I learned just as much, and a large portion of my growth took place from reading Hannah’s journal. She taught me how an event can be interpreted quite differently by people with different backgrounds and how our past experiences color our present perceptions. She introduced me to inspirational leaders like Glennon Doyle. And her unique way of articulating social dynamics and personal tensions changed the way I organize my thoughts. Yet, Hannah is not only an eloquent writer; she backs her words up with her actions. When a member of our cross-cultural broke her ankle, I took care of the basic needs, but Hannah quickly perceived that the student’s emotional needs and feelings of inclusion were just as important. Without any prompting, she organized a daily rotation of support for the member – a task that required numerous hours and lasted the entire trip. And this is just one peer; everyone respected Hannah. At one point, when Hannah was wrestling with some personal issues, she asked my 9-year-old daughter Ellie if she had an extra stuffed animal to share; this was a breakthrough moment in Ellie feeling connected with Hannah. As Ellie said, “Anyone who understands the power of bonding with a stuffie can be trusted.” Here are some other comments written by her cross-cultural peers: “Hannah’s curiosity shines and is a huge asset.” “Hannah, you balance strength of character and genuine thoughtfulness, peppered with giddy enthusiasm for the beautiful things in life” “Hannah, you make things happen. You are very intelligent in the way you care for others.” “Hannah, I always enjoy conversations with you. They never stay as small talk for long.” And, my personal favorite, “Hannah is badass but also so kind and loving. The combo makes her even more badass.”

This spring, I’ve been supervising Hannah’s semester of student teaching. In terms of content and pedagogy, she was a star, which was no surprise. Behavior management, however, can be much trickier even for experienced teachers. On Hannah’s first day of middle school instruction, she took a stand when she heard some culturally inappropriate comments. That day would have gone so much more smoothly for Hannah had she chosen to ignore the comments, but she has never been one to opt for the easy way out. Another incident occurred a couple weeks later when the cooperating teacher was absent – this one had the potential to emotionally endanger other students and was personally directed at Hannah when she tried to intervene. Rather than hold a grudge against the students who were responsible, Hannah regrouped that night, and then entered into a mediated restorative process in the following days. This process not only helped heal her relationship with the students but also helped the students sincerely and willingly change their speech and behavior as a result. 

Hannah, may you continue to sustain your balance as a dancing daffodil and a badass advocate for this world. 

Faith Manickam 

A biology, pre-med major and chemistry minor from Hesston, Kansas, Faith was honored by Rachel Roth Sawatzky, director of Student Programs, Student Life.

Cords of Distinction are presented to 91����Ƶ students who make positive contributions to student life and the institution at large, while maintaining good academic standing. It is my distinct honor to present this award to Faith Manickam who has both met and exceeded these criteria in her academic and community engagement endeavors throughout her time at 91����Ƶ. Biology professor Jeff Copeland indicates that Faith distinguished herself in the classroom and in preparation for medical school, but that she is not just a great student, she is also a great classmate. Professor Deanna Durham also reflected on Faith’s academic giftedness, adding that Faith also offers “a presence that encourages others to share; she pauses before speaking and you can see her wondering about how to put her questions into words. She is sensitive and mindful of others, giving space and a kind smile. I’ve enjoyed hearing her process in class, reflecting about identity and faith, aware of the larger world yet fully immersed where she is.” Deanna also noted with appreciation, “Faith shows up again and again: for SGA; campus events; poetry readings; speakers; convocation; and so on. And she not only shows up but she engages deeply in discussions and conversations, lingering to talk…she doesn’t want to miss an opportunity to learn more.”

In my own experience of Faith I have found that she embodies the words of musician and philosopher, Jimi Hendrix: “knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.” I have yet to meet another student who can hold space with such compassion and confidence. Dean of Students Shannon Dycus reflects, “Faith has both natural and learned leadership skills. Watching her in leadership means getting to witness the ways she is actively attentive to the needs of people around her – you see her eyes moving with care. Faith’s leadership is centered in possibility – always asking the questions of how we can show up. The spirit that drives this in her motivates others to the generative care she holds.” 

Not only is she wise and thoughtful, Faith is also a great conversationalist. I value the many conversations that have spilled over from a scheduled meeting into an extended personal conversation. Over the course of those conversations, Faith and I have discovered numerous shared experiences and deep connections. If Faith and I had gone to college together, I hope that we would have been friends; and in any case, I am very glad we are friends now.

Faith, as you set your eyes toward the next phase, I want to offer you this advice for life, in the words of Indian writer and political activist Arundhati Roy: 

To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.

Faith – good luck and on behalf of 91����Ƶ, thank you for your leadership and the spirit in which you offered it.

Misrahim (Mizz) Nyagwegwe

A recreation and sports management major from Norristown, Pennsylvania, Mizz was honored by Brian Martin Burkholder, University Chaplain, and Carlin Kreider, Campus Missionary, Every Nation Campus.

Well, what does one say to honor Misrahim (Mizz) Nyagwegwe upon his recognition as a recipient of the 91����Ƶ Cords of Distinction? He is a beloved son, thoughtful brother, dedicated uncle, friend to many, basketball player and valued teammate, mentee, and mentor to peers. What stands out most clearly is the loyalty Mizz extends to the people for whom he cares. Mizz is always willing to go the extra mile to care for and benefit others, sometimes setting aside his own preferences, motivated by a desire to see those around him grow and improve.

When observing Mizz in action, it is his steadfast presence that stands out. When Mizz is there, he is there. His contributions to the well-being of others, or toward meeting the goals of the team, or advancing a shared purpose are steady and consistent. He shows up and offers what he has to offer with an unassuming yet confident presence and he brings joy by sharing his warm smile and friendly personality.

It seems that Mizz finds great joy in serving others. He is a four year member of the men’s basketball team – elevated to co-captain his senior year, a ministry assistant and student chaplain assistant contributing to the intentions of campus ministries and the Office of Faith and Spiritual Life, a community advisor with residence life, a rec sports intern helping to organize and run events, and a dedicated student leader with Every Nation Campus as they moved from having affiliate status to being an official 91����Ƶ student club.

In addition to his on campus involvements, Mizz has been active at his church serving on the parking team and as an Armor Bearer and he participated in a spring break mission trip to Myrtle Beach. He also contributed to the Royals Read program with the men’s basketball team reading to area children.

Our hope for Mizz is that he continues to pursue God and grow in his own understandings of his purpose – his vocation. May God bless Mizz with a deep knowledge and experience of the love God has for him, and may Mizz continue to find ways of reflecting this love outward so it in turn blesses others who cross his path.

Mizz, congratulations on being honored with the 91����Ƶ Cords of Distinction.

Allison Shelly

A political science major with minors in Honors, journalism, community organizing and development, and history from Collinsville, Mississippi, Allison was honored by Professor Ji Eun Kim, political science.

Salt and light. Allison Shelly is the person who recalls what Jesus said to his followers: To be salt and light of this world, affecting and influencing the people, community, and the world around us. As shared by multiple enthusiastic nominations, Allison made a “significant and verifiable impact” on all of us during her four years at 91����Ƶ. 

As her colleagues appreciated her presence and active work in every corner of our campus and beyond, succinctly reviewing Allison’s list of countless positions and accomplishments is highly challenging. She was the SGA co-president during COVID and polarized election year, a position in which she helped the campus organize “Race Matters,” “LGBTQ+ Matters” orientations, hosted town halls, co-hosted a convocation event reflecting on political polarization on campus. Her peers also called her a great leader of 91����Ƶ’s Cross Country, Track & Fields, and 91����Ƶ Triathlon teams. Allison served as a Community Advisor for first years as well as the 91����Ƶ Honors mentor. She also worked in the Visual Arts in Worship Documentary team, a collaborative work between 91����Ƶ and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Except for the semesters when she was off -campus, either for her Middle East Cross-Cultural or to work as a Community Organizing intern at Congregation Action Network in DC, her name always appeared on the Weathervane, where she served as the writer and photographer. You may have also come across her bright, friendly smile at Common Grounds as she was our barista for four semesters. Allison’s active campus engagement was also accompanied by her excellent academic standing. As a major in political science with four minors (in history, community organizing, journalism, and honors), she has been an all-A Dean’s list student with a perfect GPA. 

Now while Allison’s resume certainly shines with numerous accolades, it is who she is and how she does the work that really makes her deserving of this award. Allison is a person who tirelessly holds on to the values of justice and equity in all aspects of her life. She is empathetic and genuinely cares about others, especially those whose voice has been silenced and or marginalized. It is no surprise that her research topics have always centered around the issues of unjust political systems that suppress others and perpetuate injustices (e.g., examining the mistreatment of Kurds, assessing the international human rights regimes that are inherently limited in addressing ongoing violence). Allison is passionate about the ways in which we can create real change, yet she approaches others with great nuance and humility, hoping to communicate and understand the complex emotions that others or herself may experience in this arduous journey for justice. Her attentive listening skills and thoughtful presence invite and challenge us to become more loving and caring people. Last year, Allison shared three values that she wishes to engrain in the foundation of her being and purpose: First was “initiative” (with the wisdom that her actions may not create immediate social change). Second, a mindset of “abundance.”  And lastly, “creativity” which often blooms the most when we are limited. I feel blessed to have been able to work with Allison these past four years, who truly inspires us with such a desire to improve herself and the world around her. I look forward to seeing her continue to walk this journey guided by her values.

Three 91����Ƶ students heading to careers in science and medicine have earned funding for summer research and travel.

The CT Assist Health Experiential Learning Program awards funds to pre-professional health science students at 91����Ƶ to support overseas clinical experiences that help prepare students for professional health programs. is a Harrisonburg-based healthcare staffing business owned by two alumni. 

Cindi Boyer, a junior neurobiology major who wants to become a physician’s assistant, and Belen Hernandez Rosario, a sophomore majoring in biology on the pre-med track, were awarded grants from CT Assist. They will be traveling to Peru this summer with Professor Kristopher Schmidt. 

“Students will shadow in large hospitals and small clinics around the country, exposing them to a variety of treatment centers,” Schmidt said. “They will also be auditing a graduate class with me on cross-cultural healthcare.  We will hike a section of the Inca Trail as well as some touring around the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.”

The Kauffman-Miller Research Awards are named for emeritus professors Glenn Kauffman (chemistry) and Roman Miller (biology), each of whom were “champions of undergraduate involvement in authentic scientific research at 91����Ƶ. Over their 30-plus year tenures, Kauffman and Miller each worked with more than 40 undergraduates on research projects ranging in topics from organic blueberry production to the synthesis of new cyclic organic compounds.

Zach Bauman, a junior environmental science major, will be supported by a Kauffman-Miller Research Award in surveying changes in stream water quality, including nutrients and sediment loading, of the North, Dry and Briery Branch rivers.

The research will help to explain how much agricultural land impacts the rivers as they transition from a more natural environment to a more human-influenced environment, Bauman said. He is one of several students who have contributed to ongoing research in water quality differences between forested and agricultural lands with Professor Doug Graber Neufeld.

“We’re in a unique area where there’s such a clear boundary between forested and agricultural lands, so I’ve had students working for some time to try to use that to understand that role,” Neufeld explained.

The research is “some of the only research on headwater streams in the Shenandoah Valley,” Bauman said.

Professor Kimberly D. Schmidt is the 2022 speaker for the Albert N. Keim Lecture Series, sponsored by 91����Ƶ’s history and political science programs. She speaks Monday, March 21, at 5 p.m. in Swartzendruber Hall, Room 106, in the Suter Science Center. A light reception precedes the event at 4:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Masks are optional. The event will be livestreamed on .

Schmidt’s topic is “Marketing Mennonites, Posing Cheyennes: Photography, Gender, and Indigenous Agency on the Mission Field (1880-1920).” She will share an extensive collection of stunning photographs taken of Cheyenne people by Mennonite missionaries. The collection reveals troubling intersectionalities of gender constructions, forced acculturation, religion, and U.S. policy on the Cheyenne Mennonite missions at the turn of the twentieth century.

Schmidt is the former director of 91����Ƶ’s , a position she held for 23 years. She continues to serve 91����Ƶ as an affiliate professor of gender history. Schmidt earned a PhD in American history from Binghamton University in 1995.

Schmidt’s novel (New Mexico State University Press, 2016) was a Women Writing the West WILLA Literary Awards Finalist, historical fiction category. She has also published (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003).

Walks at Dawn Speaks, a second work of historical fiction, centers on Monahsetah, also known as Meotzi, a young woman claimed by both the Southern and Northern Cheyenne nations. Monahsetah became Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custers’ mistress, guide, peace envoy and cultural bridge builder during the Plains Indian Wars. Southern Cheyenne cultural interpreters are currently reviewing the manuscript. 

Schmidt’s fourth book project focuses on Bertha Kinsinger Petter, a Mennonite missionary to both Southern and Northern Cheyennes from 1896-1963, and how Mennonite constructions of gender and women’s work on the mission supported U.S. government assimilationist and cultural annihilation policies. 

She is preparing to lead A Women’s West: Exploring Native American Women’s History and Culture, a three-week 91����Ƶ intercultural tour of the American Southwest, this summer. 

More on the Keim Lecture Series

The Albert N. Keim Lecture Series honors the memory of Professor Albert N. Keim who served as a history professor here for 35 years and was the academic dean from 1977 to 1984.

Learn more about past presenters, in this sampling:

2021:  Historian, author, and investigative reporter Rick Shenkman, founder of History News Network, spoke on “Why is Democracy so @#$&! Hard?” 

2020: �ʰ��Ǵڱ�����ǰ���Ernesto Verdeja, of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at University of Notre Dame, was the speaker. 

2019: Federal public defender, immigrant rights attorney and playwright Kara Hartzler ’94 spoke on “Borders, Jails, and Long Drives in the Desert: 25 Years of Immigration Law in the Southwest.”

2017: Dongping Han, professor at Warren-Wilson College and a native of rural China, addressed “The Cultural Revolution: A Reinterpretation from Today’s China.”

2016: Artist/activist  provided a lecture titled “Performing Statistics: Connecting incarcerated youth, artists, and leading policy experts to challenge Virginia’s juvenile justice system.”

2015: , political scientist in the University of Kansas’s School of Public Affairs and Administration, presented “The Police and Racial Discrimination in America.”

2014: , a pastor, activist and history professor who helped EMC professors initiate social change in Harrisonburg during the early 1960s, presented “Is America Possible?”

Tessa Waidelich, a recent graduate of 91����Ƶ, says she wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted to do after college.

But after spending just 10 weeks in 91����Ƶ’s working in the information technology field as an intern, she not only had the confidence to know what she wanted to do, but a full-time job as well.

Waidelich says vocational development was a big part of her successful experience. WCSC staff assessed “my needs and wants” and “found an internship that gave me a wide variety of work.”

Along with her internship and coursework, Waidelich worked on her resume, prepared for interviews, and started job-hunting. But it was her connections through her internship that made the difference.

“The most helpful preparation I received during WCSC was the concept of networking,” she said. “Networking and forming relationships in a job setting is the reason I was hired.”

So that she could gain more diverse experience,  , Waidelich’s internship organization, decided to place her with a client. Briya Public Charter School is a two-generation education site, offering English classes for adults and early childhood education for their children. It’s a holistic and inclusive model that strengthens families as they learn together. 

Waidelich’s work included resetting, cleaning and setting up computers, as well as arranging desks and fixing broken computers. She built relationships with both her team at Community IT and the staff at Briya, which eventually led to a job offer to become Briya’s IT support specialist.

She enjoys a variety of work, from helping students and staff with their tech needs to inventorying computers and managing paperwork.

Waidelich’s experience is not unusual at WCSC, a program well-known for providing students with a kickstart to their careers.

“We take very seriously the goal of supporting our students in discerning their next steps and building the skills and connections needed to take those steps,” said program director Ryan Good. “It’s extremely validating for us as WCSC staff to see somebody like Tessa come in with uncertainty about their direction, put in the effort and work to figure it out, and then come out the other end with a job.”

WCSC has been located in Washington D.C. for over 45 years.  Each year staff place 30-40 students from 91����Ƶ and partner institutions in competitive internships spanning many fields and majors.

Read more about WCSC

—Spring 2022 placements

—Another 2021 grad finds employment in DC after his WCSC internship.